PORT TOWNSEND — Pete Brummel, a 28-year fire service veteran, has been named assistant chief for East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
Brummel replaces Deputy Chief of Training and Operations Ted Krysinski, who is retiring in a few months. Krysinski will continue with the department for another year, working on such legacy projects as the training tower that he will see through to completion.
Brummel has a long history of service with Eastside Fire & Rescue in Issaquah, from firefighter to management positions, and was most recently leading its training division.
“I have experience at the firefighting level, as acting battalion chief, and in supervisory positions with crew management,” said Brummel. “I have expertise in technical rescue, and hazardous materials and response. Bringing that into this region, there’s certainly a lot of opportunities and need for that and mitigation.
Federal assets
“The opportunity to work with the Navy and Coast Guard and federal assets that are here is something I’m looking forward to doing,” he continued. “I have not had much experience in that.”
Chief Jim Walkowski said Brummel came highly recommended and is “definitely a known commodity in King County.
“Having someone with a comprehensive background is really important,” the chief said. “He has that experience with King County, a much larger operation than ours.”
Brummel said he was impressed with East Jefferson Fire-Rescue’s paramedic interaction and advanced life support system.
“Top shelf personnel — these guys are dedicated and they really know their craft,” Brummel said.
“Coming from King County where EMS [emergency medical service] is top shelf, too, but seeing it here is a very good strength.”
Brummel has been involved at the regional level working with grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and with emergency management operations.
“I’ve understood the need to work collaboratively with hospitals, emergency management, public works and law enforcement,” he said. “Together we have to have a plan in place towards resiliency so we can sustain ourselves in a long term event.”
Walkowski said Brummel “brings an in-depth breadth of experience in managing operations and that was quite desirous for us.”
“He took multiple departments and had them broken out into zones. Zone training is something we want to do here in the eastern half of Jefferson County. In addition, he has time riding on apparatus, with the ability to connect what’s needed in field to daily management operations.”
“Ted did a great job and gave us a baseline. Pete will build on it and move us to the next level. “
Originally from Connecticut, Brummel attended Syracuse University and worked in New York. He lives with his wife in Chimacum. He is extremely happy that he doesn’t have a long commute of over two hours one way anymore.
“It’s five minutes,” he said.
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Jeannie McMacken can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jmcmacken@peninsuladailynews.com.
